Lycia which means the “land of Lights” is an ancient region located between the Aksu and Dalaman rivers. It’s assumed that the lukas ( the pirates ) who terrified all seamen in mediterranean region are the ancestors of Lykians.

** Lycians supported Hittite empire and took part in the Kadesh battle against Egypt .

** Antique cities sitauted in the borders of region had created the Lycianunion in 8th century B.C.

** In sequence; Persians, Macedonians, Roman empire ruled the region.

** Romans consigned the ruling of the region to Rhodes.

** Pontus king Mithridates, conquered the Lycia region though Roman emperor Cladius made the Lycia again a roman state.

** Lycia was flourished and developed over centuries under the reign of Roman empire but countless earthquakes and pirates destroyed the Lycian cities.

** Lycia lost its importance especially after theArab invasions.

** Lycian monuments and memorials are the most interesting and stunning samples of Anatolia’s architecture. Hellenistic and Roman structures , tombs and shrines are worth to see.

** Lycia is very well-known with its unique Lycian Type sarcophaguses .